Sue Kelly

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Westchester Jewish Community Services' (WJCS) Dedication Celebration. This May 17th, 1998, on the 55th year anniversary of the WJCS, the organization's members will celebrate the opening of their brand new headquarters in North White Plains, New York with a WJCS Dedication Celebration at the new headquarters. I am thrilled to offer my congratulations for these milestone events. WJCS began in 1943 in a three-story walkup in White Plains, New York. Undergoing an enormous expansion since its inception in 1943, the WJCS is currently operating 29 program sites throughout Westchester. This spring, as the center celebrates its 55th anniversary, it will open its doors to their own three-story headquarters at 845 North Broadway, North White Plains, New York. The Westchester Jewish Community Services is a unique and invaluable resource to our community, offering a comprehensive, coordinated, continuum of quality care for the entire family. Over the past half a century it has educated, counseled, guided and supported countless numbers of Westchester citizens. I am proud to welcome the Westchester Jewish, Community Services' new headquarters to North White Plains, and I look forward to working with the members WJCS as they continue to offer vital services for the people of Westchester.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I offer Amendment No. 33, and I ask unanimous consent that the amendment I have submitted at the desk be considered as a substitute to the amendment I had preprinted in the Congressional Record. The text of Amendment No. 33 is as follows: Page 128, line 12, strike the close quotation marks and following period and after such line insert the following new chapter: ``CHAPTER 6--PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS. ``SEC. 411A. SCHOLARSHIPS AUTHORIZED. ``(a) In General.-- ``(1) Scholarship awards.--The Secretary is authorized to award a scholarship to any eligible applicant who is enrolled, or has been accepted for enrollment, in an eligible institution as a full-time or part-time postsecondary level student. ``(2) Application.--To receive a scholarship award under this chapter, each eligible applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary in such time and manner as may be determined appropriate by the Secretary, accompanied by a certification from the head of the agency that employed the public safety officer to whom the applicant was married (in the case of a surviving spouse), or with whom the applicant was living or from whom the applicant was receiving support contributions (in the case of a dependent child), stating that such officer died as a result of the performance of the officer's official duties. ``(b) Maximum Award.--For any academic year, the maximum amount of a scholarship award under this section for a postsecondary student may equal, but not exceed, the lesser of the following: ``(1) The average cost of attendance (as defined in section 472), at a State university in the State in which the student resides, for a State resident carrying the same academic workload as the student, with the same number of dependents as the student, and residing in the same type of housing as the student. ``(2) The actual cost of attendance (as defined in section 472) of such student. ``(c) Award Period.--The duration of each award under this chapter for a postsecondary student, shall be the lesser of-- ``(1) the time actually required by the student to complete a course of study and obtain a diploma; and ``(2) 6 years in the case of a student engaged in undergraduate studies and 3 years in the case of a student engaged in postgraduate studies. ``(d) Notification.--The Secretary shall notify the recipient and the eligible institution of the applicant's selection for receipt of an award under this chapter, the conditions pertaining to award eligibility and continuance. ``(e) Fiscal Agent.--The Secretary shall, if practicable, use the eligible institution as fiscal agent for payment of an award. ``SEC. 411B. ADDITIONAL AWARD REQUIREMENTS. ``A student awarded a scholarship grant under this chapter, as a condition for initial receipt of such award and periodically thereafter as a condition for its continuation, shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the student is-- ``(1) maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study the student is pursuing consistent with section 484(c); ``(2) committed to remaining drug-free; and ``(3) attending class on a regular basis as to not interfere with normal course of studies except for excused absence for vacation, illness, military service and such other periods deemed good cause by the eligible institution or the Secretary. ``SEC. 411C. AGREEMENTS WITH ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. ``For the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with eligible institutions in which any student receiving a scholarship award under this chapter has enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment. Each such agreement shall-- ``(1) provide that an eligible institution will cooperate with the Secretary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter, including the provision of information necessary for a student to satisfy the requirements in section 411B; ``(2) provide that the institution will conduct a periodic review to determine whether students enrolled and receiving scholarship awards continue to be entitled to payments under this chapter and will notify the Secretary of the results of such reviews; and ``(3) provide for control and accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure proper disbursements and accounting of funds paid under to the institution under section 411A(e). ``SEC. 411D. DEFINITIONS. ``In this chapter: ``(1) Dependent child.--The term `dependent child' means a child who is either living with or receiving regular support contributions from a public safety officer at the time of the officer's death, including a stepchild or an adopted child. ``(2) Eligible applicant.--The term `eligible applicant' means a person residing in a State who is-- ``(A) a surviving spouse; or ``(B) a dependent child. ``(3) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible institution' means an eligible institution as defined in section 435(a) that-- ``(A) is located in a State; and ``(B) complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and does not discriminate on the basis of race. ``(4) Public safety officer.--The term `public safety officer' means a person serving a public agency of a State or of a unit of general local government, with or without compensation, as-- ``(A) a law enforcement officer, including a corrections or a court officer engaged in-- ``(i) apprehending or attempting to apprehend of any person-- ``(I) for the commission of a criminal act; or ``(II) who at the time was sought as a material witness in a criminal proceeding; or ``(ii) protecting or guarding a person held for the commission of a criminal act, or held as a material witness in connection with a criminal act; or ``(iii) lawfully preventing of, or lawfully attempting to prevent the commission of, a criminal act or an apparent criminal act in the performance of his official duty; or ``(B) a firefighter. ``(5) Surviving spouse.--The term `surviving spouse' means the legally married husband or wife of a public safety officer at the time of the officer's death. ``(6) Unit of general local government.--The term `unit of general local government' means any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or any other general purpose subdivision of a State, or any Indian tribe which the Secretary of the Interior determines performs law enforcement functions.''

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to introduce an amendment that provides needed assistance to the family members of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty. Police officers and firefighters lay their lives on the lines on a daily basis, Mr. Chairman, and, sadly, all too often they make the ultimate sacrifice in their service of their communities. This tragic fact was illustrated most recently in my district in New York when a volunteer firefighter, Michael Neuner, who was also a police officer, was killed last summer while fighting a fire in the town of Southeast. This unfortunate story is repeated around the country, Mr. Chairman. These are our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones, and they leave behind families who must continue on. The death of a father or mother takes an obvious emotional toll, but it has an impact on the financial security of the family, particularly when it comes to meeting educational expenses. Oftentimes, for the sake of putting food on the table and a roof over their family's heads, a single parent who has lost their spouse will forsake providing for their children's education for the sake of survival. We can prevent this phenomenon by passing the amendment before us today. This amendment seeks to address this particular problem. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award education scholarships to the spouse or dependent child of a public safety officer, police, firefighter or corrections officer who is killed in the line of duty. These scholarships may be used to cover education expenses to attend a postsecondary institution as a full-time or part-time student. This version of my amendment differs from the original preprinted version because it makes these scholarships need-based and extracts from the calculation of that need any death benefits received by the family on account of the officer's death. The last Congress adopted similar legislation to award education assistance to family members of Federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. I was pleased to support that legislation, which passed both the House and the Senate by voice votes and was signed into law by President Clinton. I am proud to introduce this amendment, which takes the next logical step and extends this benefit to the families of all public safety officers who are killed while serving their communities. Crime is a reality in our Nation, and we should acknowledge those brave and dedicated people who devote their careers to fighting crime in our neighborhoods. Our public safety officers deserve our respect, gratitude and support. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important amendment.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, later today this body will consider the BESTEA bill. This bill provides the necessary resources to improve America's aging and decrepit infrastructure. While today we will hear discussions of roads and transit and funding formulas, I want to point out a lesser-known feature of this important bill, environmental enhancements. BESTEA significantly increases funding for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program, for the transportation enhancements program, and for the recreational trails program. The measure creates new transit enhancement programs and encourages alternative modes of transportation such as biking. In fact, BESTEA even works to improve compliance with the Clean Air Act. Mr. Speaker, this bill proves we can balance America's economic and environmental needs. For the environment, for highway safety, for job growth and for infrastructure improvements, I am a strong supporter of this bill; and I hope my colleagues will join me with their support.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I too just returned from the Republic of Macedonia, where I participated in this 14-member bipartisan congressional mission to Kosovo, invited to observe presidential and parliamentary elections in the Republic of Kosovo. We also sought to learn the facts surrounding the brutal repression currently taking place in Kosovo by the Serbs. Our mission was simply to observe and bear witness to the happenings in this troubled part of the world. Unfortunately, the Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, denied our entry into Kosovo. Let us be clear. We worked very diligently in advance of this trip to ensure that we would receive our visas to enter Kosovo. We contacted the Yugoslav embassy in Washington well in advance of our trip. We submitted our visa applications and generally provided whatever information was needed to support this important trip. We waited several days for a response to our request and called the embassy on a daily basis to inquire into the status of our request. The answer always came back the same, ``We are considering it. We'll get back to you.'' With still no answer, our delegation made the decision to proceed with the hope that we would be granted visas. Unfortunately, we arrived in Macedonia, which borders Kosovo, to the disappointing news that our request had been denied. Why? Supposedly the reason given was the inadequacies of the information we provided in our visa applications to the Yugoslav government. Perhaps the true reason was that President Milosevic did not want us to see firsthand the brutal campaign of repression he has waged against the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo. Despite this denial, Mr. Speaker, we decided to make one last effort to cross the border. We assembled the delegation and made our way to the nearest border post separating Kosovo and Macedonia. The location was a remote one. It was extremely cold as we made our way on foot from the Macedonian checkpoint to the border of Kosovo. Unfortunately, the heavily armed border guards had no intention of allowing us to proceed. A CNN camera crew which was already across the border in Kosovo was prevented from coming down to the border checkpoint to talk with us. We finally gave up, Mr. Speaker, and returned to the capital of Macedonia, where we established an election monitoring effort there. The election did take place despite repression and violence by Serb police and paramilitary units, and the people of Kosovo elected Ibrahim Rugova to another term as President. Sadly, the Serbs consider this election an illegal one and continue to deny the people of Kosovo basic human rights, such as the right to choose their own elected leaders. Mr. Speaker, the people of Kosovo want nothing more than to simply live and work in peace, yet the Serbs time and again resort to violence and repression in an effort to maintain control over the former Yugoslav republics. I want my colleagues in this institution as well as the American people to know of our experiences in simply seeking to observe an election and investigate human rights abuses. I want them to know of the violence that is taking place right now against the people of Kosovo. I heard today that another half a dozen villages have been surrounded and there is heavy artillery up there around these new villages that have been surrounded. Many are dead, tens of thousands are homeless, and scores of towns are currently under siege by Serbian military units. Innocent civilians are without food and heat. It was recently reported that six ethnic Albanians died from starvation and cold. I want the world to know of what is going on in Kosovo because we must not allow Kosovo to become another Bosnia. Yet that is exactly what could happen. Until now, the resistance in Kosovo has largely been peaceful and nonviolent. I hope and pray that it remains that way. My greatest fear is that the Serbian brutality and repression results in more armed resistance in Kosovo which will lead to only greater violence and bloodshed. We must not allow this to happen, Mr. Speaker. The world community can prevent this if it has the will to do so.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to address a problem that is plaguing our Nation--children being taken hostages. Far too many scenarios have been documented in which children are exposed to violence, emotional trauma or physical harm at the hands of adults. For example, in New York, a woman's estranged husband took her and their three children hostage at the point of a loaded shotgun. He held them for nearly four hours, and at one point, he even allegedly traded his seven-year-old son for a pack of cigarettes. In Texas, a man took 80 children hostage at an area day care facility, including two of his children. They were held at gunpoint and released over a 30-hour period before the standoff was brought to a non-violent conclusion. In Florida, a suspected drug addict and murderer held two children, ages two and four, hostage for two-and-a-half days. An entire Orlando neighborhood was evacuated during the standoff. Only when he threatened to use the children as human shields did a SWAT team rescue the children in a raid that resulted in the death of the suspect. In Baltimore, a man broke into a second-floor apartment, stabbing a young mother and holding her nine-month-old child hostage for two hours before a Quick Response Team could rescue the baby and apprehend the suspect. Situations like these are ``unacceptable'', and should not be tolerated by anyone. All over the country, children are being used as pawns in actions played by violent adults. We in Congress must do our part to help prevent these scenarios from developing in the first place. My legislation will give new protections to children--our Nation's most precious resource. I have joined forces with Senators Olympia Snowe to establish the strictest punishments for those who would evade arrest or obstruct justice by using children as hostages. This bill will toughen penalties against any person who takes a child, 18 years or age or younger, hostage in order to resist any officer or court of the United States, or to compel the Federal Government to do or to abstain from any act. Such a person would serve a minimum of ten years to a maximum of death, depending on the extent of injury to the child. Please join me in this important effort to protect the lives and well-being of our Nation's young. I hope that together we can make our Nation a safer place for everyone, especially those in our society least able to protect themselves.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, today as we celebrate International Working Women's Day, I think it is fitting that we also celebrate the impressive presence of women-owned business owners in our Nation. Women business owners are impressive, wonderful people who are out there helping to generate small businesses that are vital to the well-being of our economy. As a former small business owner, I wholeheartedly believe that we must support these women-owned businesses as an integral part of the well-being of our economy. Nationally, women-owned firms make up approximately 36 percent of all U.S. firms in America. We employ more people than the Fortune 500 companies combined. We will own 50 percent of all businesses in America in the 21st century. In fact, in my State of New York, which was ranked third out of the 50 States in the number of women-owned firms, there are more than 527,000 women-owned firms in New York. They account for 36 percent of all New York firms. These women-owned firms employ nearly 1.4 million people and generate $205.8 billion in sales. Between 1987 and 1992, the National Foundation for Business Owners estimated that the number of women-owned firms in New York increased by 70 percent, and employment in women-owned businesses has grown by 141 percent with their sales rising by 180 percent. However, as we celebrate these women and their accomplishments, it is necessary that we also recognize that inequities exist. I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the fact that America's largest purchaser of goods and services is Uncle Sam, but Uncle Sam dispenses a mere 1.8 percent of all Federal procurement contracts to women-owned businesses. This sad underutilization of women-owned businesses is most unfortunate. I recently learned of a startling statistic that puts this inequity into perspective. On the heels of the exciting news that NASA appointed its first woman shuttle mission commander, it came to my attention that of the total of 516 shuttle astronauts, 40 have been women. This makes up 13.56 percent of our shuttle astronauts to date. It is shocking to think that with respect to their field, women have greater access to space travel than obtaining a Federal Government procurement contract. It is time for us to open government contract opportunities to women- owned businesses. For this reason, I have introduced House Resolution 313 with my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald). The resolution is designed to highlight problems in the Federal acquisition system, but more importantly, it makes concrete recommendations for Federal agencies striving to achieve the unmet goal of having at least 5 percent of Federal contracts awarded to women- owned businesses. My commitment to improving Federal procurement access for women-owned businesses will not waiver until such access is assured. The time has come to open the doors for women business owners, level the playing field, and create real competition among our Nation's businesses. This will only be achieved when every Federal agency commits to improving access for women-owned businesses. House Resolution 313 helps set us on this path, and I believe its passage is a critical first step for women and for our country's economic prosperity.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, democracy is struggling to take root in Kosova despite the continued pattern of Serb violence against the ethnic Albanian population. Parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled to be taken in Kosova on March 22. This will be the first general election this volatile region has had since 1992 and it represents a landmark event for the 90 percent Albanian population in Kosova in their struggle for freedom and independence. Today we are just hearing reports of artillery shelling and aerial bombing of villages, part of a continuing pattern of violence against the ethnic Albanian population by the Serbs. This must stop. I call upon President Clinton to initiate strong measures, including tougher sanctions against the Belgrade government of President Milosevic. For the sake of the ethnic Albanian people in Kosova and a lasting peace in this troubled region, we cannot allow this violence to continue.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, as a cosponsor of this bill, I rise today in strong support of this measure to honor President Ronald Reagan with this designation. Much has been said about the redesignation of the airport which received the title Washington National, contrary to the insistence of the other side of the aisle, not directly because of George Washington's legacy but because of the name of our Nation's capital. We have always acted in a bipartisan manner on such bills, until now, when the Democrats, not the Republicans, have decided to be partisan on this matter. I would like to address the importance of the Reagan years. I hope that all of us will remember the anxiety of the Cold War and pay homage to the man who put our fears to rest. Please support this bill. President Reagan once stated that through his policies he hoped to ``foster the infrastructure of democracy''. We foster and measure our Presidents by the fruition of their promises; and by that high standard, President Reagan has been proven a champion of foreign policy. He deserves this designation and he deserves our utmost respect.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Talent] for yielding me time. I rise today in strong support of S. 1139, the Small Business Programs Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 1997. This important legislation will reauthorize the lending programs of the SBA, allowing our Nation's small businesses to continue access to capital. We are all aware of the important role that small businesses play in maintaining the economic strength of the United States. They create the vast majority of new jobs, provide countless new technological innovations, and drive economic growth in our country, and unfortunately there is often insufficient capital available for entrepreneurs to use to start up new businesses or for current small business owners to expand existing ones. This is the void that the Small Business Administration's loan guarantee programs often fill. Without passage of this important legislation, this valuable service would be threatened. Our Nation's small businesses, and indeed our economy, would suffer as a result. The gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Talent] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] have worked very closely to put together a bipartisan bill that deserves the backing of every Member of this House. I urge my colleagues to support the small business community and support S. 1139.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, for years citizens have been complaining about the IRS. Honest citizens faced with an audit, a problem, confusing changes in the Tax Code and bewildering instructions about their tax return have cried out for reform to their representatives in Washington, radio talk show hosts and newspapers across the country. But nothing seems to change. To add insult to injury, the IRS responds to all these complaints by defending its actions, assuring citizens everywhere that the IRS is improving, the IRS is reforming itself and honest taxpayers have nothing to fear from an audit. If this is not the perfect example of an arrogant bureaucracy that is out of touch, I would like to see a better one. Arrogant, out of touch and unaccountable, these are the hallmarks of a Government that abuses its power, a Government which makes ordinary citizens feel powerless and fearful. Mr. Speaker, the IRS must change big time, not cosmetic changes that mean business as usual but a top-to-bottom overhaul that does not put honest taxpayers in the same boat as tax cheats. The IRS needs to give taxpayers the respect they deserve.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, October 29, I was detained for health reasons and missed Rollcall Votes 535 through 544. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``no'' on Rollcall No. 535, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 536, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 537, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 538, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 539, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 540, ``no'' on Rollcall No. 541, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 542, ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 543, and ``yes'' on Rollcall No. 544, In addition, Mr. Speaker, on Rollcall No. 547 today, I was mistakenly recorded as voting ``yes''. I meant to be recorded as voting ``no'' on Rollcall No. 547, and I ask that this be reflected in the Record.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to honor those women who are forced to live with this disease and to their families who support them during their time of need. While we stand here and recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I realize that in many families every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sometimes because a mother is fighting the disease; Sometimes because an aunt is in remission from the disease; Sometimes because a grandmother lost her life to breast cancer; Or in my case, because my sister is fighting this silent predator. As if it is not enough that today over 2.5 million women in America are living with breast cancer, we read story after story about the additional hardships these women are made to endure. Some women are forced out of a hospital 12 hours after a radical mastectomy with tubes left in their back and no one to assist them; Some women are denied reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy and are told that it is deemed cosmetic--an excuse that masquerades the truth that denying coverage is merely a cost-savings measure; Some women who have already lost several family members to breast cancer fear they will lose their job or health insurance if they decide to be genetically tested in an attempt to save themselves; Some women are denied access to the full menu of medical options of breast cancer treatment because their physician has been gagged by the health plan for which he works; Some women are diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer because of a prior false negative test result and no insurance coverage for a second opinion. These are real stories of real women who not only had to fight breast cancer, but then had to fight a health care plan which practiced bottom-line medicine instead of patient-first medicine. Breast cancer survivors must be treated with compassion and dignity, not as an accounting figure. This is why I introduced the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997, H.R. 616. This legislation: Ensures coverage for inpatient hospital care for women following a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection for a period determined by the physician and patient; Allows for coverage of second opinions for all cancer diagnosis for men and women, whether negative or positive; Requires coverage of reconstructive surgery for breast cancer patients--including symmetrical reconstruction; and Protects physicians from retribution for recommending longer stays. One breast cancer survivor wrote the following about the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act; ``It would be a wonderful feeling knowing that until there is a cure for this horrible disease women would at least be able to face breast cancer with dignity and peace of mind knowing that their health care plan would stand with them and not against them.'' The experiences of the thousands of breast cancer survivors have made me realize that we should have no greater priority than empowering those with breast cancer the right and ability to play an active role in the management of their treatment. It is our obligation as leaders to ensure them that their medical treatment is in the hands of physicians, not insurance companies. It is a profound injustice when health care forgets about the patient, yet with regard to mastectomy recovery and breast construction following a mastectomy, that is just what has been done. Let's put the reality of this disease in perspective. When a woman is told that she has breast cancer, the feeling that immediately follows the initial denial is lack of control. My bill is a patient's bill aimed at providing patients, in consultation with their physicians, a greater degree of autonomy when deciding appropriate medical care and, therefore, taking back control of their lives. Some people call the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act a mandate. How is this a mandate when I only ask that patients get what they pay for--health insurance. If health insurance can abandon you, ignore you, or even kill you, it isn't insurance. Now, to be clear, all insurance companies are not so insensitive as to not provide these basic benefits and, therefore, all will not be affected by this legislation. But we have a responsibility to protect the doctor/patient relationship, ensuring that the medical needs of patients are fully addressed. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act should be the top social issue for the 105th Congress. I ask my colleagues to join me in making that a reality. Lastly, my heart goes out to the women struggling with this disease, for whom we hold this special order tonight.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 616, a bill originally introduced by Representative Molinari of New York, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprints pursuant to clause 4 of rule XXII.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Istook amendment and in support of the Porter substitute. This legislative body needs to wake up and realize that, whether we like it or not, teens across America from all types of families-- dysfunctional and solid--are having sex. Now, do we ignore the facts in adherence to our utopian principles of parental guidance and abstinence sacrificing our children and their future in the process? Or do we accept the facts and work to educate our children in hopes of encouraging abstinence, preventing devastating sexually transmitted diseases, preventing abortion, and preventing unintended pregnancies There is another fact being overlooked here as well. Family planning clinics already are required to encourage teens to talk with their parents about reproductive health issues--but guess what--some parents aren't talking. In fact, some parents treat sex as such a taboo that their children are left to learn on their own with no guidance at all, when poor decisions can prove deadly. Other parents are abusive, leaving teens to take care of themselves. This is not a perfect world. Members in favor of the Istook amendment cite a tragedy in Illinois where a 37-year-old teacher took a 13-year-old student, with whom he was having a sexual relationship, to a federally funded clinic for contraceptives. This is indeed a tragedy and that teacher needs to be put away for a very long time. But to claim that his relationship is the result of the existence of title X clinics is dishonest and misleading. This relationship was going on prior to their visit to a title X clinic and, had the girl disclosed that her partner was an adult authority figure, by law he would have been reported. This crime was committed by this perverted teacher, not the family planning clinic. I do not stand here today to trivialize the seriousness of this appalling case. In fact, the substitute amendment being offered by Chairman Porter requires that clinics provide counseling to minors in recognizing and resisting attempts of coercion by their partners. Please open your eyes and support the Porter substitute. It is a matter of health. Don't let unrealistic ideology sacrifice the futures of our children.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the following was forwarded to me by Joseph R. Farina of New Windsor, who is the New York State chairman of the American-Catholic War Veterans. I am inserting his statement into the Congressional Record: I wish to compliment the Congressional members of this committee (Congresswoman Kelly, Congressman Gilman, Congressman Hinchey and Congressman Shays) for their sincere concern and probing questions in extracting the truth from those who are testifying at this hearing. The reduction of the Castle Point VA facility from a hospital to an outpatient clinic has devastated the veterans of the Hudson Valley who depend so much on the health care supplied by this facility. The statements made by Mr. James Farsetta, Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 3, were very disturbing to say the least. Farsetta, who at first denied that his reduction in staffing and services were tied to cuts in spending, later amended his statement confirming that he received an annual bonus based in part on reductions in spending and direct patient care to veterans. This entire incentive procedure designed by the VA and implemented by Farsetta placed greed of the almighty dollar at the expense of veterans who gave the prime years of their lives in selfless devotion and pride to their country. The bonus induced, costs cutting procedures implemented by the VA has resulted in patient neglect, errors in treatment, staff and service reductions, and failure to respond to veterans concerns. I compliment Congresswoman Kelly for extracting the truth from James Farsetta and having him admit to his bonus arrangement. Congressman Christopher Shays had every right to read into the Record a statement recognizing James Farsetta's 29 years of devoted service to the VA. But, I take exception to his statement. I condemn Farsetta's action in accepting a bonus based on reduction in services and medical assistance to veterans. A bonus which was earned at the expense of the health of veterans who have already suffered so much hardship and pain in their lifetime. All we ask if to stop hurting the veterans, we have been hurt enough. Be a little considerate and let us go out with some compassion and dignity.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Smith amendment. I find the restrictive Smith amendment to be superfluous. We all know that the 1973 Helms amendment which prohibits any U.S. funds for abortion in international planning is part of the permanent foreign aid statute. Furthermore, there is no evidence that any recipient of U.S. funds, any recipient of U.S. funds, has ever violated the terms of the Helms amendment. This is unnecessary layering of restrictive law and can only work to harm women and children worldwide by denying them the various health services provided by international family planning organizations. The effects of the Mexico City policy are far-reaching and negative. According to UNICEF, ``each year, 600,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes. Seventy-five thousand of these deaths are associated with self-induced, unsafe abortion.'' Do we want the blood of these women on our hands? If my colleagues vote for the Smith amendment, that is what they will get. In addition, the Mexico City policy serves as a threat, a gag order, that results in failure to assist women in need. For example, if a woman is suffering from a life-threatening infection that is the consequence of a self-induced abortion, members of an international family planning organization might fear that treating such a woman could result in a loss of funds. Is this the result we want? Family planning is a very critical and complex issue. It is prenatal care; it is child nutrition; it is followup with preventive care; and the education provided by international family planning is often what enables children to survive their first year and enables women to survive their pregnancy. We must not impose this gag order. We must provide the world with family planning education that works to eliminate the need for abortion. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to please support the Gilman- Pelosi secondary amendment.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, in Life magazine this week there is a fascinating article about Oprah Winfrey and the influence books have had on her life. To my mind, the article reveals more about education and whether a child grows up wanting to read books than all the useless conferences on education that go on in this town. Oprah relates an incident that happened to her as a child that made quite an impression on her. Although she is an avid reader today, her mother was not, and she recalls: I remember being back in the hallway when I was about 9, and my mother threw the door open and grabbed a book out of my hand and said, ``You're nothing but a something, something worm. Get your butt outside. You think you're better than the other kids.'' Mr. Speaker, this kind of attitude has harmed the education and future prospects of many children in America. They are not told that books and an education are the ticket to future success. During all the talk about education reform, let us remember that attitudes and values placed on education are what matters most. Loving parents and teachers who teach the importance of learning matter, plain and simple.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and bid farewell to a valued member of my staff, Mr. Dennis Lambert, who after 20 years of distinguished service in the legislative branch of our Federal Government, has decided to retire. Dennis has served as my chief of staff since January 1995 when I first took office and has proven to be an outstanding administrator, a trusted friend, and faithful ally. Dennis grew up in Kansas City, MO, and attended school in the Hickman Mills School District. He holds an A.B. in history from William Jewell College, a masters in public administration from New York University and a masters in liberal arts from Georgetown University. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force in Germany and the United States, specializing in communications. Dennis also taught school in Center School District in Kansas City, MO. He served in key staff positions for former Member of Congress, Tom Coleman [R-MO] from 1976 to 1992, initially as chief of staff and later as minority staff director on the House Agriculture Committee. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of the city of Washington, DC, and has worked closely with the Truman Foundation. Dennis is an experienced leader and team player; a fantastic negotiator and strategist; he is a master at innovative consensus building and I always marvel at his ability to remain so calm in the midst of any storm. In my 3 years in Congress, I have come to rely heavily on Dennis' counsel and infinite wisdom. He has been a very loyal friend to me and to the rest of our staff, and we will miss him.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, February 24, Dr. Richard L. Lesher, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced his retirement. So, I rise today to recognize Dr. Lesher, an individual who in his 22-year tenure at the helm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has displayed a singular dedication to nurturing entrepreneurship and championing the cause of America's small businesspeople. With his steady leadership, Dr. Lesher has left a lasting legacy for our Nation's business community. Since he assumed the leadership of the chamber, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the chamber's membership includes 215,000 members, 3,000 State and local chambers, and 1,200 trade and professional associations. Additionally, the chamber represents 72 American chambers of commerce abroad in 65 nations. Programmatically, Dr. Lesher was responsible for establishing the National Litigation Law Center that has successfully represented business interests in Federal court. He was also instrumental in developing the Quality Learning Services Program of the Federation Programs and Services Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This program is dedicated to delivering management seminars and continuing professional education throughout the United States. Dr. Lesher has been effective in generating new membership and creating new programs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of his success at making the chamber a more active part of American politics and business. He has energetically promoted the chamber's Grassroots Action Information Network [GAIN] that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of chamber members. He also created the ``How They Voted` program, which ranks the voting records of Members of Congress on the basis of their stands on small business issues. Additionally under his watch, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also launched BizNet--the American Business Network--featuring the shows ``First Business`` and ``It's Your Business.` Lesher, whose two decades as president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have shown him to be an individual dedicated to promoting small business, individual initiative, and effective grassroots political action. Dr. Lesher's advoacy has had but one end--preserving the United States as a land of opportunity. I applaud Dr. Lesher's fruitful career, and I wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 75, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding States' efforts against repeat criminals. I was pleased to join my friend and colleague, Congressman Barcia, in introducing this bill because it highlights one of the most dramatic problems in our Nation's war on crime--namely it is estimated that 80 percent of all violent crime committed in the United States is committed by only 7 percent of the population. That is a very telling statistic that sheds some light on the problem of crime in the United States. In the last 20 years, we have seen the war on crime take on new and ominous proportions with an innovative criminal element devising new and ever more violent crimes such as with carjackings and drive by shootings. How do we battle that 7 percent of the population to ensure our safety? One of the best ways is to guarantee that the criminals who repeatedly commit violent crimes serve at least 85 percent of their sentences as House Concurrent Resolution 75 states in no uncertain terms. In my home State of New York, we have had some of the worst reports of a criminal element at work, and only in recent years, we have been able to see a reduction in our crime rate through community policing and a get tough approach on lesser crimes. While it sounds troublesome and tedious to have the police crack down on petty crimes, the recent case of John Royster demonstrates the value of this practice. Mr. Royster was arrested by police and fingerprinted for jumping a New York subway turnstile. It was his only recorded offense. Three months later, the same prints were reportedly found to match those at a drycleaning business on Park Avenue where the owners had been beaten to death. It was because of this match that Mr. Royster confessed to four brutal attacks including a highly publicized attack in Central Park that left a woman in a coma. Now the next step for Mr. Royster is punishment-- hard time in a State penitentiary. I will work with my colleagues, both here and in the New York State House, to make sure that Royster stays in prison. Putting away violent, repeat offenders like John Royster is essential if we are to make successful inroads lowering crime and strengthening our communities. I thank Congressman Barcia for his work on this problem and ask for all of my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, to join us in strong support for this important resolution.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, today marks the first anniversary of the death of New York's Congressman Hamilton Fish. For many years, Ham Fish represented the people of New York's Hudson Valley with dedication and integrity. It is now my honor and privilege to represent that congressional district here in the House. Ham was one of the giants of this great legislative body. His was a voice of reason through tumultuous times in our Nation and at all times on the people's House; he served us with integrity and honor. In his long and distinguished service on the House Judiciary Committee, Ham Fish's name was synonymous with justice and fair play for all Americans. While carefully looking after the needs of the people of the Hudson Valley, who repeatedly returned him to Congress, Ham Fish gained national recognition for his principled positions and his determination to protect the integrity of our Republican institutions. Mr. Speaker, Ham Fish embodied all that is good and great about this House. Today, on the anniversary of his death, I ask that we honor his memory by living up to the high principles and unquestioned integrity which are the legacy of his service to us and to the American people.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to commend this year's participants to Girls Nation, an annual program which brings high school girls from across the country to our Nation's capitol. I am especially pleased to recognize a talented young constituent, Ms. Kristen DiLorenzo of Newburgh, NY, who was chosen to represent our great State. Girls State is the first step before going on to Girls Nation, where leaders from across the State gather to learn about city, county and State level government. It was at this summit that Kristen was elected by her peers. With this honor, she became one of only 96 high school girls, representing 48 States, chosen to come to Washington, DC, to get a hands-on lesson in civics and politics. These young women were selected because of their extraordinary display of leadership qualities. Sponsored by the American Legion, Girls Nation has been bringing future leaders to Washington, DC, since 1947. The aim of this nonpartisan program is threefold: To teach the workings of the Federal Government; to further cultivate an interest in the civil and political realm; and to inculcate a value of good citizenship in these young women who have already shown an aptitude in civics. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to recognize this outstanding program, and I am proud to have such an extraordinary young woman like Kristen in my district, representing the great Empire State.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in marking the tragic events that occurred 23 years ago on the island of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, the Government of Turkey sent troops to Cyprus and forcibly assumed control of more than one-third of that island. The action dislocated much of the Greek Cypriot population creating a refugee problem that exists to this day. Just think about it, children who are born 23 years ago, are old enough to have families of their own today. Additionally, over 1,600 Greek Cypriots are missing. They are still unaccounted for as a result of this invasion. The children who were born may not have known their own families. While in the past the Turkish Cypriot community was unwilling to work toward an agreement, I am pleased that both sides have come together in my congressional district to hold their first round of talks in Amenia, NY. It is clear to me that the clean air and beautiful countryside of Amenia has assisted immeasurably in laying a strong foundation for these negotiations since both sides have agreed to continue these talks in Geneva on August 11. The talks are the first step in a long process that will hopefully lead to a consensus agreement for lasting peace. It is my hope that an agreement will include the removal of the roughly 35,000 Turkish troops from the island of Cyprus and the return of 180,000 Greek Cypriots to the homes that they fled in 1973. We have heard about the anguish that those Cypriots feel when they know that there are other people occupying those homes. I want to applaud the willingness of the Greek Cypriots in demonstrating their continued commitment to compromise in order to bring an end to this longstanding dispute and also to Rauf Denktash, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a State recognized only by Turkey for making the right move toward the peace table. While the past efforts have failed to produce any movement toward an agreement, we continue to pray that these talks will bear fruit so that all the people of Cyprus will know the sweet taste of freedom and a lasting peace. While the talks continue, the U.S. Government has to let our position be heard loud and clear by all interested parties to show we are serious about achieving a lasting peace in Cyprus. In this regard, I am pleased to be a cosponsor to the House Concurrent Resolution 81, the concurrent resolution calling for the United States initiative seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in Cyprus. Additionally, I am going to continue to support legislation in Congress to cut economic support funds and military assistance to Turkey until it withdraws its troops from Cyprus, lifts its blockade of Armenia and makes progress on extending political and economic rights to its Kurdish minorities. Mr. Speaker, it is with decisive steps such as these that we can begin to hope for a brighter future for Cyprus. I wish to commend the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for his steadfast work in this area. I look forward to working with him and all of my colleagues who share our concerns to achieve a unified and peaceful Cyprus for the future. The talks are a long step toward the peace process that we hope will lead to a consensus agreement for lasting peace. I think it is very important that we get that.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the Treasury Department's use of family economic income is bizarre, unusual, ill-conceived, unconventional, unorthodox, irregular, deceptive, misleading, dishonest, aberrant, divorced from reality, fanciful, factually challenged, preposterous, outrageous, inaccurate, unsupported by common sense, unconscionable, unsubstantiated, brilliantly calculated to distort the truth about the Republican tax plan and, alas, oh so typical of this administration. In short, the Treasury Department's use of family economic income is a fraud. Mr. Speaker, what I am hearing from the other side this morning about tax cuts for the wealthy is an insult to the middle class constituents that I represent. Can we just imagine my going back to my district and scornfully attacking middle class families as ``the rich,'' as somehow morally deficient for thinking they know better how to spend their own money than the politicians in Washington? I have gotten used to listening to the complete incapacity to understand elementary economics on the other side, but today marks a new low. A portrait of George Washington hangs behind us. I wonder what he would think about family economic income.